Isaiah 55:1-3 / Romans 8:35, 37-39 / Matthew 14:13-21
It is often said that life is short.
But of course, it depends on how we look at it.
According to the data from the Department of Statistics, the average life expectancy for Singaporeans is 84 years.
84 years may seem like a long time, but the focus has shifted towards extending healthy years.
But regardless of whether life is long or short, one thing is certain, and that is life has its problems.
The problems in life can be generally divided into two categories: problems that are within, and external problems, or other people's problems.
The problems within are problems that we face with ourselves.
So, there are health problems like high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, overweight. These are just some of the health problems.
And then, there are emotional problems, problems in the family, in marriage, in school, at work, and even in retirement.
These problems wear us down and we feel drained out in life.
What we don't need, and don't want, is to be involved with other people's problems.
Our first reaction would be to say, "That is not my problem."
We may just want to push it away by bluntly saying to the other person, "Go and solve your own problem."
But life is not as clear-cut as that, because there is some kind of connection between our problems and other people's problems.
In the Gospel, Jesus received the news of the death of John the Baptist.
He then wanted to withdraw to a lonely place with His disciples where they could be alone by themselves.
The life of John the Baptist ended abruptly when he was executed by Herod.
Jesus was affected by that, and He wanted some time to think about life and its meaning.
But when Jesus stepped ashore, He saw a large crowd, and He took pity on them and healed their sick.
Jesus has His needs, and the people also had their needs.
But when Jesus saw the crowds, what He saw were not problems; what He saw was people.
Jesus saw people who needed God, people who had problems that they cannot solve, and they came to Jesus because they saw God in Jesus.
In His own need, Jesus also understood the people, and so He went to them to heal their sick.
Jesus wasn't just a problem solver or a miracle worker.
Jesus is the Saviour, and He showed how God is saving the people by taking on their problems in life.
In this, we can then understand that God solved our sinful human problem by sending us Jesus to be with us, and to be like us, in all things, except sin.
But the disciples did not quite understand that.
When evening came, the disciples saw a problem coming up.
There was a crowd of 5,000, not counting women and children.
They were hungry, there was not enough food, and it was getting dark.
The disciples saw a problem, and they didn't want it to be their problem.
So, they said to Jesus, “Send the people away.”
Yes, send them away and let them solve their own problem.
But Jesus said, "There is no need for them to go. Give them something to eat yourselves."
The disciples tried to protest, "All we have with us is five loaves and two fish."
And Jesus said this, "Bring them here to me."
Whenever we face the problems of life, whether it is our own problems or other people's problems, let us remember those five words of Jesus, "Bring them here to me."
Our human tendency is to say, "That is not my problem."
But, let us not say that because we might just end up with a bigger problem.
Rather, let us listen to Jesus telling us, "Bring them here to me."
In the hands of Jesus, problems become possibilities, and possibilities will turn into realities.
So, whether it is our problem or other people's problems, let us bring them to Jesus.
In the hands of Jesus, miracles are realities. We just need to believe.